Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-06-17
Officer Smith Makes His
Statement,
AND LOSES HIS STAR.
Statement of Officer Gilbert as to
How Officer Weed Made
Money.

Va " II LVV @hN ~ a. OeSHS iVi poei
tions on the force were filed. Licenses
to sell liquor were granted to James
Murphy, 537 First street; Chisholm &
Mcdonald, p North Main street; Geo.
Croft, First and Rose; r. S. Haines,
North Main street, near the Club
Theater.
The Mayor said that the Commission
had met to investigate charges of brib-
cry and corruption against members OF
the police force or rather intimations of
charges of that description. Officer
Fred Smith was called and sworn and
said that he bad been unable to get the
evidence he wanted and was not ready
to testify in the Chinatown cases of
bribery. He was satisfied that there
had been bribery and he had tried hard
to get it, but had so far failed. He was
still working on it, however, and was
satisfied that he wonld get 1t after a
time. He said he did not know posi-
iively of any policeman receiving bribes,
but thought he could implicate three OF
them. Testified that he had been Of
fered So per week by Chinaman not to
interfere, also that he had been offered
like amount by one Hall not to pull
his game. He asked Hall if he
took him for sucker, as there were
thirty.nine other officers who would
pull the game if he refused to do 1t, and
that would get him Smith in hole.
Smith said he thought there were about
$500 or 5000 month paid in brlbes by
Cinnamon to policemen, but all he knew
positively was that he had been offered
S.. Under Mccarthy the tan games
paid S35 per week each, and the lottery
games S.. There are seven tan games
and fourteen lotteries. Major Bell, who
was present, said that officer Gilbert
had told him that he was approached by
Chinaman, and Gilbert was sent for.
Smith said that Deckman, ex-offi ger,
knew something, and be was sent for.
Major Bell said that Officer Botello had
acted in a peculiar manner on visiting
Chinatown, and Botello was sent for.
The meeting then for awhile resolved
itself into small committee of general
conversation. At this time the matter
of licensing tan games was discussed,
but it was brought to a close by the dis
covery that there was a State law against
gaming. During the lull Captain Tyler
said lie would like to call attention to an
article in the Tribune, in which Smith
was made to say, among other things,
that the Chief was warming viper in his
breast, meaning Capt. Tyler. The gallant
CAPTAIN denied this most strenuously,
said he was no viper, had never been
warmed as such in the Chiefs breast and
declared that he did not even know
what kind of under shirts the Chief
wore. smith said that the statement
was an emenation from the brain OF the
reporter and Tyler was satisfied.
Major Workman caused all to prick
up their ears by stating that he would
like to hear smiths statement as to
why he did not pull the white games
and what prevented him from doing so.
Smith said he was ready to state. Skin
ner wanted it in writing. 1t was final.
ly decided to let Mr.. Smith make his
statement and have the clerk take it
down in writing and he commenced.
SMITHS STATEMENT.
could have got three games If | had
not been told not to in way. spoke
about the Brunswick running and said
could get it. The Chief told me: I'VE
have Just got $500 (meaning in
6nesl on, OF that game and you
had better let it run until next
month"; i went to officer Little night
or two afterward and he said: "Smith
there is a terrible crowd in there gamb-
ling. why don't you 90 in and pull
them" I said: "Little l cant, the
Chief has told me to let it 60 until next
montb." Little said: ''All right II
that is the case / will see the Chief my
self" He afterwards said: 81 saw the
Chief and Captain and brought them up
there, and the Chief told me it would
not do to be too hard on them, but let
'em 60 until next month" As to 2653
North Main street, the Chief told me to
get that game if / could. l took the
Chief and went up two nights and got
the surroundings of the game. told
him the only way l could get it was to
put a "stool" inside, or maybe through
the roof. I'll send man down. And
he said: "All right" A man came down
and offered to 60 in for S25 pay and $l5
expenses. i met the Chief next morn
inc and asked if the man had been been
there. and he said: "Yes, but he asked
too much money. If we amt got men
smart enough to get those games with
out paying that amount, I'll let them
20: or if | can't get the game without
putting stool in."
mentioned Johnny Tate's game, and
he said: 81 don't think there is much
plaving going on there. l am told that
Tony Kraker is busted" On January
28th | raided the Turf Club. tChief
objected to giving away the workings OF
the office; said he never heard OF a sub.
ordinate giving away the workings OF
the ofice.5 Smith said he only wanted
IN show that he could have raided the
game afterwards.
The Chief said, on the grounds o
Smith giving away the workings OF tn
office. he here demanded his star.
Workman said, Don't get excited
Chief"
The Chief said, 81 demand Smith
star. and il l am going to be Chief Q
Police | want to be so, and | want MI
Smith to give up his star. l propose
show that Mr.. Smith has caused troubl
in every department he was ever in.
The Chief said the only suceessf,
raid made was the one on the Turf Clul
when Smith did not have an opportunit
to give it away.
The Mayor said there were occasion
when the Chief might see the necessit
of not ''pulliug" these games.
Smith said he always kept record
what he did.
Officer Gilbert then came in and wi
.worn as to what he knew of Il
Chinatown bribery.
He said: am on duty in Chinatow
and one night met a Chinaman wi
asked me where the man who used
wear star 25 was. He described u
man and knew who he was. II
Chipaman asked me If ! would like
make money, and i said yes. ~
Th;paman said star 25 and he used
-. of ,oonav The Chinam